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'iLETTEPi. 

to 

BOBErvT SMITH, ESQ* 

^LCRLLTAUY OF 'tifE UNITED STATLS. 



i> ' 



i '-"M-. 



" VESSELS L\RGE MAV VENTURE MORE; 

JUT LITTLE BOATS SHOULD KEEP N E.V II SIIO R E.' 



THE appearance and publication of tv/o laft'-hn /: ipiccct, (ths 
«ne in the Virginia Argus, (jver the fii^nature of J' Caniillu:i,"the other 
i.'theformuf a pamphlet, ii^ied"Numa,")ahnoftuniverri'Ilj- believetl 
to have been fabricaieclfl///?tTi;//r/ o/"5/.G'/7<'j-V, under yoiu' aufpices, 3e 
»t your particular iuitance, occafion me thus to addrefs you ; and I 
conjure ycu, to grmt me your attention to a few obfervatior.s, liaf- 
tily thrown together, but of importance to yourfelf and to tb.e gene- 
ral interefts of this nation. Whilll unawed by the debafing dread 
cf the frowns or choler of nitn in p-^nver I curforily examine the 
virtues, the vices, the prudence and inprudence oi thofe, who are 
or have been intruded witli the meafurcs of our government, cither 
in theprefent or prccedii'g adminiflration. I beg you not to mif- 
take my motives, or afcribe to me the characfler (generally given to 
thofe you ca 1 your political opponents) of a federallft. I aflure you, 
^though I ever was averfe to unneccflary egotifin,) I am a demorratf 
but '* cf the old fihool" ; and have ever been fo from my earllelt 
■youth— that I have uniformly fupported tl e c.iufe of democracy, 
jiot only at the expenfc of thoufuids, but by my public writings 
and exertions, and at the rifque of perfonal fafety alfo — hnve had 
a prominent hand in the difplacing from o!fice,and ilifappoint'ng tlie 
vii'wsof a number of noxious federaliils ; and in ele<^ing many de- 
mocrats — was the warm and active friend of Mr. JefTerfop's elecf^i- 
on to the prefidency, as alfo comparatively friendly to that of Mr. 
^'adifon ; but not o> your appointment as Secretary of State — never 
4'eceived one cent of public money iu iny life i and as you will fiad 



•i 



Jn t^r Tequrl, rn"' n rrt've / r^ericar, vlp Tt'rr'rpfl if e cor{11iuno% 
ol n y ci'iitury far rr cr'/ thrr 1 1 c n.tr. trnmeSf tiiLi or i^lca t ior 

"I is inconsi-ii-nt with a Ucv born spirit, 

To side witl (till\ or injure im ni. 
If, fir, in this adJrcis i toiiionn (o the genius of the age, and t# 
t7ii..i iCLtii.^ lo .iaiim..j.y aaaptcil to your talte, and deliver iny un- 
tinit-nis in rhat iooic but caudui rnauner, which niy co-ieinpjranc« 
;;j>pL-,;r fo fonJ of, (and you efpeciaily to appr^jvc oi,) you will im- 
pute it to t.Kir wile example ; or ac ie.dl euiilidcr u, as cuiiipiiinea- 
X..i\ oi ^onx ti.\\:\i\.<.yfu iLjfthy of iinitatijn. i Ui.mid never luve eon- 
fidcred either ♦' C"ainiIlu6"'o)r «' iSuniu" eutiticu to pubiie notice 
(aft.r l>Mi;iU!!j^ wiiO \\\\, the writer) had there not txilted tiic llrong- 
cll reafuns ro believe, indeed to evince that luch urii«.r was nu l.ii 
than the Barber's block for the delicate touches and mauiyjirokes ol the 
Secretary of States' erudition t and, fir, as " qui lacit per aliuni, li- 
cit pi*r i^," you will permit me to throw your d piUuwu jii loe out of 
tl e fc ipe, (^oiily uling liim ;is y ;u d «, a> oecalijn niiy require) .in4. 
adcirCis mylell to y u pcno lany j allowuig iiim, iioiwuliltajiuiug t.iC 
honor, «* as long as lie is in the Fox's fervice to hold up his tau."-— 
1 h rough your y/v/zw/^er of »/A;.7/rv, yoiULommenced your miuriat© 
stiack on Mr. John Randolph, with »• b.rivdry bare-faced, that poor 
pretence to v>it" the lafl r fource of mean, malicious impute.ice, 
uhich degrades the man of parts into a defigning fophiiter, and 
tl e gentleman hcneath the level of an o fter -lujinan. Here, (ir, yw|| 
difpl.iy no argument, Icfs reafon, tlie want of mental rehnement, .^id 
a total tlifiiuallhcation for the ll.itesman. A.i author who thinks 
to add convicflon nnd weight to his arguments oy fcurrility and 
nhufe, refembles the infane man, who wallowed in tiie mud in 
order to make himfelf fine. By a coneatiiiated feries of faife rea- 
("oiiings, you have bewildered yourfelf, by natural eonfequences, 
into a labyrinth of correfpon<*ing abfurdities. You iirlt repreient 
iVir. Randclph as a pcrfon of no confequence in fociety--mean, 
Ui nillucatial and illiterate ; and in tlie very fame breath Jay to lii» 
charge all tlie hoflilities of the dcmocratical p.uty, to t!ic prefent 
adminiflration — Hence, in the poet's language is verified, that 
•« Tools rufh in where angels fear to tread." — But, fir, chrilli..a 
charity may palliate and exeufe you, becnule the agit.iteil mind fee* 
ro alternative; aiul in its perturbation throw« down the barriers of 
every nice fenfation and refledion. — Senfible of the precarioufiiefs 
c i the tenure by wliicli you hold your prefent political Itation, you 
>ie ior aiiplymg your mercilefs dagger to the hearts ot all fuch, ng 
Will not oder incenfe at your ariftocracicaj altar — Whenever dcfpo- 
tic ra^c ^ f^fcUuulucii iccik i¥ uwiUo^' any mcaurc, oi i« ituuw* (• 



r n 

ahleH: fubniilT.on^fucTi ns t^iink and act in a manner clifTerent, ihcy 
nJvcT fail to enforce Uicii g oble anil ficnu-like tondutl, (lo inle- 
par.ibly co:inc(fii\1 with t[iv,ir principles) as tiicir htailcn iniagitm'ion 
may prompt tliem to conceive, is conimenfurate to the undertak- 
ing. The intellecftual foul of feme creatures, inftead of expanding 
the be.iificeiit rays of focial harmony and good, fink, into the enve- 
nomed lake of degeneracy j and in tniu;i':gbt nvcriesy ll.dk fi.rth in 
firpintine gu'ilcy the harpiei and yrt///rr;v of mankind- Unlike your 
hired pane^yrilt towards you, (or rather you towards yourfeli,) I 
(hall nt)t attempt to advocate Mr. Randolph through thick ai d thin. 
The moit elc\ated and exalted minds are naturally fubjecl to 
foniL^ imperfecflions and blenililies j and even their p; rltclions, and 
firtues may be fo reprefented by calumny and a captious tnalniert-AS 
to obnubilare the merit and luflre of fuch qualities — That (liaic of 
merit or demerit, that mull fall to each menibcr of fcciety, is but 
fmall i the operation of opinion b( ing in the inverie ratio to the 
number of thofe who poflefs the former. May I not alk, fir, how 
long it has been fince Mr. Randclpli was the tckvfnller zwA non-pa" 
raUcl of you and the democralical party ; and f ( r what lie has been 
denounced and piofcribed ? Is it becaufe I'C iiu'ependi-ntly j urlues 
the V rtuous didbites of his own mine', and with his country's gcc4 
in view, Iteers for the haven of national divinity, notwitldlanding 
fuch pcUiiidl pilots as yourfelf ? Or is he not lulhcicntly pliable and 
d..clile for_)'5«r p trpofes ? A convertibility of chara^er, froni perloii.il 
confider..tions alone, difcovers a heart devoid of every particle of 
principle ! No man fliould be decried for purfuing what he 
tiiiiiks right, in a f.iir and honorable w;iy— every one has this privi- 
lege — it is his birth ric.ht, the fruits of his labours and he ought to 
enjoy it. Beware, fir, that in fome of your aecufations againd 
]Mr. Randolph, you are not attacking very many of the wnrmcft 
democrats in the nation — men who are and ever have been, truly 
devoted to their country's gO(-d, and the caufe you nJfLSl fo mucli 
to admire ! The energetic fyllcin of pnjfive obtditnic, long fujferir.gy 
ttnbargoy non-intercourfe, i^c i^c has never been tolerated, or approv- 
ed of by numbers of enlightened and ingenuous djnicerats, as fer- 
vently attached to ihe publi weal, as fome who are unconscuuiiou ly 
and I \\\-:\sfrom perfonal m tiv j, making a "hue and cry" of execu'ive 
infallibility. It mult be admitted, that, in many inftances. the conduct 
of our late adminiltration, to redrefs our national grievances, was 
likc^hfuking zu none ^ni\ fever into a galloping con fum^Aion ; and the 
prefeiit adminiflration, (with you, Mr. Secretary, in the cabinet,) to 
compl te the dim tx of injudicioufnefs ami error, a<fl the part of the 
Unh.ip y Charles the I, by faying, " my predecefflr didy and a fled f» 
h^irt tfti'* i^ut remember, fir, tliat he, who pcifiiis iu aOin;^ irii- 



J5fnp''r1y, or flolnp injuf^icir, appravatrs the crimr, zn^ tnlcs upoq 
htmfcif all the guiir of his prcileceHors. A government that iti 
Ji-oip i[)lc of fuppoi ting its ri^'hts, or unwiUing to defend thcni — 
tli.u furcijncs t)ie er.joyments of commerce, ;inil ir.ipofes privations 
on the iiHturiil liberties of .its citizens, cannot be juflly faid-to b^ 
liable and fouxh It Is wifely obferved by an eminent author,that 
•* (I nation iiw'irliiiKuld proieJl hcrfc'f frjjn kojlilit'n's., or maintain peiice^ 
rniifl have it in her power tj (Ltlare nuar" • and common fcnfe teaclies, 
th^it the mean'? mufl alwiys be fuirable to tliC end pr;pofed. Let 
me tlicn" aik, whether furli \i our prcfeiit fituation ? Wlicihcr \vc 
hri fuTioioiuly porent in our natioivd revenue and means of defence, 
to dsclate war? Or, is not the conc!unonrationul,ihat the hoflllities 
Smviiiruiis, (o lavillily heaped upon us, by fome of tlie Europcaii 
p.)werSj originate from their feiife of our inability to revenge tlieni r 
In vain may nations calculate the perpetuity of their power and 
pr '.'jvriry o i the Icale vif populatioti ;iiiii wealth, without an ii. ter- 
ra! aifeiplined pi'otecflion .a id defence — il.e one is the necefiary 
J)rj;)utl of c mful'ion, the o.hcr the immediate increufe of timidity | 
i-tvn the iMtaral love of riches, and a fear that their treafurcs, (from 
th :? i -cu-ini^'l and defenctlefs lauation) will become t!:e prey of 
C;!t:'i prize, or be fi-ized on by adventurers. Confider, fir, what 
svoulil be our conQerintion and dilemma, if a hollile fleet were to 
Appear in tiie .ludfon, the Delaware or the Chcfapeake ! Previous to 
t^ c military and nival organization, and euabiiilimer.ts cfGre.it 
liritain, a nitre fcju.tdron of Dutch ihips having once vlfited Chat- 
haaT, llrucK I'ueh tr.'pidation into London, that the inhabitants 
■be-jah to lly, iiUl to kek refuse elfcwherei tho' their numbers were 
fu Ticient, had they been difciplincd, to oppc^fe any power of tlic 
vorl I. For petty co:i(lderations of domeflic favings, we ne^lec^ ihe 
auxiliaries of n.uional leeurity and dij?i>ity ; and palfively luhmit to 
our rij^lits bcin i tlep'^ednted upon, for fear of the expence of defend- 
ing them. V/e may hr.il the morning dawn of liberty, as yet, with 
•" tt// iL'-ir : and whilft F.uK^pe, (as the troubled t^eean in time o( a 
le'^ipefl.) is fonminif with agit.uion — whillt her once fmooth fur- 
f.ice o!" tra:?quirity is (haken into convuHions \ ami with rapid llriilea 
her pride a'>d elory are haltening to diiiuknion, we may yet exclaiin, 
*■■•'• /ire iiit.rnallyi free, tio ftroit i iyra/if, no hiiut;;ht,' d~f()Ot luih over uS 
v:th rrpriri IIS l'-ivti^. Hut, have the infatuation of liberty and nail- 
'onal pride — has our infulalrd htuatioy, far dillant from thofe fcenes 
o ''un ill mifery — have a few years of peace and imlepcntlence, 
>V'iee ! fro 1 <"jr reolle-li >'i, th if, bat a Ihort time fince. many of 
th.- power, -if coMtinent.il I'aivo-ie, now pro,.ning muler tliraldorn 
ai;a tom.noiion, iaf more weu/why, moic powerful aad jjopuluua 



tfian OTirfclvc.i, alio boailrd of tlieir li'oTty, tlieir luppinefs and fe- 
curity ? The decline of the greateft empires his ^ciier;illy been nt 
the time when they conceived thcmfelves the molt powcrt'ul ; and 
their vifionary fecurity prepared the precipice of their li-jllruclion* 
Nations, liice individuals, to preferve refpe<^"lahiliry, mult rcfprcl 
themfclves ; and to avoid iiifiilts be ready to avenge them. By re- 
ftridions of natural privileges, and noxious fy(tems of embargo, 
non-intercourfe, &c. &c. and the vain ollentation of neutrality — by 
fubmitting to be infulted within our own territory, and even to the 
murder of cur own citizens — to the imprefsment d thoufands of 
Dative Americans into the fervice of foreign tyrants, to the inhu- 
man incarceration of the freemen of our land, the iiulifcriminatc 
coiififeations of their eifecls Sc the burning of their veflels, and tv the 
pillage and deflrudion of our property — even on nature's high- 
way, our government has become relaxed, and enervated in all its 
members, and our liberties fettered. To ad^ thus, iir, is to extin- 
guilh in the hearts of our citizens all confiilence in the rcflitude of 
government— all zeal for the honor and welfare of their C(.untry— 
all emulation for glory — all defire to diflingufll themfelves, whicli 
are the great fources and principles of almoll all the aiflion^ of life. 
Experiments may anfwer in philofophy •, but government, like the 
apple of the eye, is an unfit fubjed for quackery. Liberty ij a 
plant of fuch delicate texture, and all its parts of fuch fymetiy, that 
experimental ingraftings and pruuirgs endanger its very exiltence. 
It is ni.t enough for the prefent adoiiniftration to fay, "things are 
asthe* found them — that their's is in unifon and conformity with 
the late adminiftrntion." This may anfwer private popular purpofes, 
but can never fatisfy men of difintereflednefs and underllanding — 
men, who value tJKir liberties and appreciate the conllitution, ancV 
that therefore the prefent adminiflration " defcrves weli" — to, well 
aiight we juilify the a£l oi finings hicatcfc- cur progt-nitor jUjm f^i.-il. I 
fliall readily admit, that the power to declare war, and the powers in. 
oident, are veftetl in congrefs — to provide and mjiirrt lin a navy — to 
make rules for its government — to grant letters of ma;qu^and repri. 
lal — to make \v.\c; concerning captures — to raife r.nd fj.j^port armlet 
-I— toelliblifli rules for their regulation — to provide fcr organizing, 
arming and difeiplining t!>e militia, and for calling them forth in the 
Service of our country, are alio powers belonging to congrefs. But 
it is eviilent at the fame time, that in a popular government like 
ours, the necediiy and expediency of fuch mcafures, always emanate 
from the chief magiflrate or executive, in his report to the legiHa- 
tive body of the (lute of the nation, and advices or recorrmendati- 
•ns of tlie JieccHary and eificieut mean* of fitfety and defence. il3 



tft tlie prndu'cm ^Ka^ gives t*" 'ion ani! viVT'*'*^. to n?t'ona! a^encj 
and atlivitv ; n;iH.\vhcn ho is inert and motionlefs, tlie coir.po* 
rent p.irts of the hody politic, lofc: their intended to.ie and functi(ii)3. 
AVhen the her.d is difordercd, eitlicr by paralyticjlnkes from politicid 
jugglers ; the influx oi preiertuituia! v:Jitat'tonSy or the empirical cata- 
plaj'iu oi defigmng pedagjgues^ the whole fy fie m is involved in pertur« 
bation and confufion. The ligiflative and executive powers ought 
in nil popular and el d^ive j:overnments, to be kept fepcrate and dif- 
tiiid, ill their various exercifcs and duties; but that this axiom of 
principle is not fo well maintained, and preferved in theconltitutioa 
of the United iStites, as its nature requires, is obvious; and henc^ 
the executive {<:) frequently impofe a partial ftupor, on the legisla- 
tive. Were the power to appoint to oilice delegated to the legifla- 
ture ; and inflead of the n-jm-rxation of officers being the indifpenfi- 
ble and exclufive prcrequifite of the Prefuient, to originate from the 
immediate reprefen'atives of the people, we need not tear fo much 
the having a Lord North in our cabinet, or a JelF.-ries on our bench. 
The frequent exercife of the ele<flive franchife, fliould be the vit.J 
defideratum of all republics. If our prefident was ineligible, after 
his firft four yv'nrs cLclion — no member of either branch of ouf 
Icgifl.iture cvjiible ^{ holding or being appointed to any office of 
f refit during the tiine for whleh he was eleclcd the falaries and 
receflary number of all clerks in our departments of iVate, regulated 
by congrefs, our government would be more impartially adminiftered 
— its principles better prc)te6\ed, and we fhould have amongft us, 
lefs ot party (lijjtnii-jti, lefs eleclijr.eering chicanery and fewer parafytcs, 
than at pr fcnt. '1 his would be a barrier agai ift the impulfes of paf- 
fion — the combinations of intjrcR — the intrigues of faction — the 
hafte of folly, and the fpirit of encroachment. It is in all republic* 
eflenti.d that tlie iaa- ih )uld be fuperior to the magistrate appointed 
to adminifter it — the conftitution. fuperior to both, and x.\\q funimum 
imperium pnpuli omnipotent to all. But the people of this country 
(land as a line imprctTed by a hair, and fecm deflined either to be 
I ullied out of their rights by foreign aggreffions, or cozened out of 
them by fophiilic rcfinem.ents at home. Ours rather appears a go- 
vernment of experiments, to try what burthens and privations the 
people can bear, than of wifdom and rcpublicanifm. Whether the 
great body of the commaniiy or the mafs of great men, are in thit 
country, the objects of reprefentation, are fubjeCis well worthy of 
inquiry ; and we need go little farther for authority to elucidate the 
propofition, than the many intrigues of a certain fet oi mercenaries of 
^■jvernrn'nt-lct'chef., {h'mt'-fpun nobler h\ njf-rn'ttijn') among US, to get 

iiuo oar houfci} uf legilUuoa aud {>o[ls ot' oiice, luch pcriong ^% ihc^f" 



in 

know will be ready Inftruments to do every tiling for the ngrrsnc^ife- 
meiitand promotion of the hitter without regard to the ititereft of 
the former. It is juftificd by experience, that the morethe p;iiru>ii$ 
and inchnations of fome men are indulged, the k-fs concern they 
have for the intereft fc pofperity of the pubhcj as thtir minds become 
cfF-'minatcand inert, by the Hcentious efflux of premature palhons, 
and they regardlefs of every thing but what tends to the gratificaiioii' 
of their incefiant and infatiablc demands. It will puzzle the imagi- 
nation to determine whether the (tupefaOion which now pervades 
the people in the prefent crifis of affairs, has been brought on and" 
occafioned by a depreifionof thatcfTential fervor for their conltitution, 
or by tne experimental llimulants, which defign and artifice have 
applied to hli/^er them into the fenfation. The nmor patrnr being 
debilitated to inartivity, the fyftem fecms as wlI! prepared for a 
hemloc as a cordial. Still it is wonderful (at lead to me) that the 
noble and ir.valuable caufc of liberty which or.ce roufed us to indig-' 
nation and to arms, does not with a like zeal and enthufiaTm i.ifplrc 
us, totenacioufiy fofter and maintain the ccl\ly aiquirement. It wc 
have loil that magnanimous fenfe of loving our country more ar-'* 
dently than our perfons •, yet it might be hoped that the natural 
glow of refentment would, in fomewife, fubilitutc patriotilm, and' 
impel us to a£i:s of m.mhood and of duty, again'l foreign h.tro«.ity 
and infult. A ^F«/ T^-Z^r, in the ruder age of defpotifm and unre- 
fined policy and government — when juftice and law, were tributary ■ 
to no other votary but arbitrary exertion and power, knew how to 
afTjrt a nght, and revenge an injury. I muft alk pardon, Or, for this 
digreflion, pirticularly as you are ambiihus of perfinal h)mi^e ; but 
P.S- an atonement, I will now again turn my attention to your flcr'.d 
pieces of impotence " Camil'us" and ** Numa." Infatuation and 
irrationrd pride, are generally the forerunners of fome great misfor- 
tune ; forbad you but fuJered the transports of your unexpedl.-d 
promotion to the flation you now fill, to have abated, and not b^en 
led by the inebriating fumes of the fudd.'n j iy, into prolV.gaeir^s 
that mufl envelope in darknefs the merelt glimmerings of pru lence, 
you might have enjoyed, at leaft, a kind of negative v/ifdom a id 
refpicl. The uifoundc^d declamations — t.\\z fulfane idolatry o{ C^- 
miltus and Numa, (and the fourcc from whence they em.'rge bu*i i^ 
well known,) expofes the tenure by which fome of the prefent ai'mi- 
niflration, and their nobles expeci to hold x\\c\r perch r.nce powers j 
and evince them, if not the ableft: ftatesmen, the mcfl tmrivnUd am* 
h'tdtxtirs, in duplicity and finefTe. If our adminiftration is fo impo* 
Verifhed in talents and merit, ns to \nvAe ihc r/rd cf/rirf/injrs and dcp.ri- 
^fUSfXQ defend $r sJJ felebrity t$ their cjnduci, h change is .♦* dcvc>utl/ 



ta br wnisl". TrutS anc! Innoccacc can liive no occifion to c^U 
r.. i .1, isii:h h-)d .11-1 evi:! m to th;lr defc icj — V\\^ u litj I pri icipl^i, 
n: candour and,virtu:: ar-j the trai induclimis of th-^ir alleviation— 
.Sti I !v aiT.-i hoMoral)le actions beget a reputation, a:id that alone will 
pr • u're conlide ice. Yet, lir, I cannot but adiiire your wifdom in 
the choice ol: a chara:ler to anfwer the purpofcs of your ambition 
a-id difi.^ns-^lie has t ile its eminently calcuLited ior your purpofes j 
f.)r \K\tri he cannot ju lify an^l refute, he ardently labours (with 
your unexampled alBliance) to divert the attention of his readers, by 
clouds of hfier:i(lox and random fit ^hts of ojl^jquy. It is impoTible tJ 
f )!h)W your matchl.fs fcu'ptor of abfurdities, pas a pas, throUj^h all 
his lu'-.'iMnjrs & paniihxes — fuch an employment would better fult a 
m id-hnule than me ; bat the lavifli and ui.ikiiful manner in which 
you have authorited liim to polilh you with fpurious eulogif.n, whilll 
it excites commileralion, u lavciil ibly provokes indignation and dif* 
gal. In this, iir, you have acted with A/Vw as the Pjpe docS iv'.th the 
JJ^vil, -Wji-n ke caiijuizcs a Saint — his holinefs appoints Satan a aun/A 
and th'-n commands him what to fay. So deep a drain of hyp^icriff 
ufually difovers the crime it labours to conceal, and only increale« 
the jn I horror the world ge icrally entertain for tliofe who have 
committed it. Unwilling, fir, to do pootl, (if you ever did any) and 
lathe world applaud you, your vain-glory anticipating, fromconfeiou* 
Jittlenefs, neglect, you found the holloiu t umpct of your own fame, by 
an enumeration of nominations 3c appointments, whichwealth, party 
inOucnce and intrigue alone induced, and you were never qua- 
lified for — Thus, you impru.lently rufhed into the cave of the Cy./'^pr 
fir f, me HI i>ral'/e tatUrSy you left there — Cut when your elev.-:! hiw^ 
d-^d.ind i ft ; d liars per aiviwn piiH'Tyrill v/as preparing his :njii:id) 
rfyour expiiing char .cler, why did you fuKer him to mention your 
Jrntsy as Secretary of State? Defilt, fir! For Heaven's fake defiilf 
To fall a felo dc se, forifhiy v.v\ inco.ifiderately. ch illenros h.^tli pitf 
an<l contempt ! Do not fuTer tlie tocfia of yonr own difgrace, to 
be rung[ u id_*r your verv window, an I daftirdly fmile .-.t the infult. 
Rrc'll - 1, fir, how in liinantly you w^re impofed on vhc prcfident, 
ai f -cv-tiry of tl ite —what fuht'lety and artifice were ufe.l, to get y ^a 
11 NHii 1 ired ar. 1 ;;n;^n;nted ; ^^^\ how Ifarltt-hke you have U;I...\ei 
fi Jce ! ! ! T cill on you, at the t:mj of your departed repti/jt-,.i,io 
•aj.fw.-r the following interrogations; aud defy your denial, u.lif* 
at the -xpencc of vcricity. Did not Mr. trlkii ', u ircfcrvedly, 
candidly, a d in c\t -ifo, fncw yan all, and every inllru-lion anl 
c ^mmu'.i.ation what."ver from his gov*, rnment, relating oi- many 
manner conccrninj the n 'iT^ciati on, you and he were thcnengl^ed 
iu ? Did jo.i i.n^urt, .wj uuloi Liiow»i to tlic i)ierKient fuiJi Uf^. 



■ 19] 

^>uaions3nd c6T)rr!v<rK:»tlon«, /;; nil iL'r, pr.rtSy in t-c irr^.t /•/'> 
<liar,^ uunj}r,iinL\i and inttLi}.-!ble mnnner, tliat y^U un(Wf}Q:^ft ami >r- 
rt'/W them from Mr. Erfkinc ? H ;ve you not fediiloufy. aiiH i i- 
tri;jruiiigl}r l.'.bourcd to m .ke yourfcir confpic u-sus and popular, by 
.writing 10 your friends in the dliR rent ftaL^s, to introiucc into thtit- 
(late legiflui'.res, \!r. Giles's n/V/.'/.v •//, on the fu'ojt*<'l of the i'ji»l 
negotiation and iSIr. Jackfon's difniiu".!! ? Did you nrt cncloft; to a 
tertain perfon in Rirhmond, t!ie brief or fonn of-fuch rcfolmions, 
as you wiilied the legifintursof Virgini.j to adopt on thiit cccafjcn ? 
in lact, have you nrt, either directly cr indirectly, in theie and va?- 
ry other inTiances, been difrTacefulfy inr.Iguing, to derogate and 
JelTen the nrspulir fl.mdlng of Mr. Madifon,' ?,nd to build up your 
own fame on its ruins, againft tlic next prendential election? — • 
Dcprendi' r-iferumefl ! If you fIer.d''rot guilty/'I am furetocoii- 
ti<ft ycu— If you fland « mute," you corvir:i yourfelf. Henjcfovth, 
fir, forbc?.r to r-,rntion your xecretaryiliip i At the ccv.rt of St. James', 
you are the DeUc'uzfui tetnporis. "When your Phartf,-e of v-^enu'ttj 
had exhauftcd his, and y?ur whole f'.in-i of fcurrility nrd ccbhlir.r. 
reprehcnfion againfi: r<Ir. Ran loloh, he de'fcended to criticifn^s oi{ 
his pcrfon. This might dcbafe, if there'wcs room for addition, ct 
further mnUtr fci a mathematicr 1 unit ; but, '«nemo repento \\\\i 
turpiflimuG." His half-p.r.rvdvi'Wy on this occafon, wculd eonvulfe 
rfic lahby of a hroibsly and does credit only to the caufe he cfpoufej^. 
But, when he wrs amafing his redundant fancy, with the iiaturr.l 
deformities of Mr. Randolph, you fuiely mull Jiave heen nhfent front 
ycur cffice^ and thus deprived him of tlie cccaficnr.I opportunity oi 
looking you in the y^r^ ,- ctherways he niuft have been inflantl/ 
difarmcd, by obferving that dame nature, \n vzrKcr.Uc /7/;«5f.", l\acl 
prematurely lidcJ^ow from her prefence, and to exprefs lier indig- 
nation, had imprinted her iv.d-l'dle rr.arh^'wx i\\Q tuighhurhcod cS your 
fcrihecd. Pardon, fir, my being a little farcadic with ycu ! Wit 
and fatire, like fome medieines, wiil not operate on found corftituti-' 
t>ns -, but when they ir.ect with a morhid carcc.fs^ tley fin-'; tie veiy 
devil : and as you, Hr, have a great in. my /ore jlmes about you, C 
•withmy/iV/j m-xy not gripe you f: rely .' Not content in the mertilefs 
::ttempt to aflafiinate tiic reputation of Mr. Randolph, yru fall on 
Mr. Gallatin, (that patriot and statefman,) with pau'an cruelty, as 
if ambition and licentioufnefs knew no bounds. Knvy and icricnfyr 
are fatal difcafes — the former is n malady, that feldom adrrits of a 
cure, and is generally aggravated by the remedies adminillered to it. 
— the latter extinguifhes all prudent refieclions, and is not to be 
cured by reafon alone — Hence, fir, you are at prcfcnt, in the parox- 
ifm of complicated diilcmpcrs, that mull level your political coloflur 



[ ^^ ] 

to th? ^ro'v-.-^. Fi-Jt from uliencs coin^'j y^w: frar, "tTit'f.T. 
GaUatin w.il aJilvMy t\\z roptitat'nn oi Mr. ?«1 1 lifoii" ? If Mr. 1\I i* 
t'ifjn'a priiicipii^j ave fo immaculare, ?.'.\d liis coiidaclfa iMf.i!!:t)lc n| 
puyujita wl{]i to rcpreftnt, it is qaitc ufuieLcfHry to b: to fcn't'iit 
i-.iici klitltcus uLout the i5cprees, to which t'lcy Inou'tl be poliflicd, 
f)r the fervor by wliii^li they llioultl be protecVed.— No means crji 
rr.(ir«: effedlu.'.lly ^uiiruntei; tlieir puiiiy, ov impart to them a mcrlrLii 
l'-;!crc, thr.n {o inv'te iLi fic;tl »m of puMic icruiiny, arc! inqiiirr. 
V.'v a\c p.iiticlp.'.r.ts in ihe bi^uhen of cxpeiifo^ qiut events of gnir» 
Crtr»tut, .md have the right to nule invtllmenti into the meaiurci 
iiecelTiry ta i^ive it A^c ir.ut'.t) .1. One ahal>i or ftretdi of povi-c/, 
g'lVts bUCiij^tlj ■x.\C>. example to another, 'till prcccilent makes rig!\t, 
and it becomes irrefjilible. Tliat equality or rit^ht, ami excmprion 
fjw.ii the iloinijatioa of any clher, is caUcd liberty; of which no 
p »e can bt. deprived, iir.kls by his own confeiit, or i)y li>vcc. Ail 
»).i power-, ot the c'licf ni.ij.-ilirate arc tleilvtd iVoni lire people •, aal 
^h'-y u'ho !iAve ;!ic vif^ht of lU i) t'lCiiisel/es, can receive nothiilt 
f..jin liin, '.vhj hji no more llun aay oiic of ihiin, 'till t!i:y invetl 
hiai with it — When that iruft a.ul co ifjdonee, tlius conicreti, arc 
iii any manner r.iifapphwii or abufed, the rivjlii of complaint, and to 
difphice fach truike, imine>li itcly comir.ences — it is r\ iHpulation 
Ceccfiarily impheil in the grant. Cujus eil inilituere, ejus eft a^v- 
rogara. If, therefore, the people iiiiciiuto, tiu*y may nbror.Uf— - 
the\ arc the juiIlI^s of i!)e perionnnice of the ends- of the inlli'.ati*>n. 
Ilr! M idiiou is bound by the will of trii'fe, who coiifired on hiit 
th; niagl.lr.uical p.)vv-i- i and tlie i.wwz law, th..t gives po^'cr, prr* 
Scribes til.' ruL"5 and ri.nitati.).is by which it is to be enforced. Ih-crs 
cannot exifb a fer'.oas fe ir, that Mr. Galiati 1, that or«ir<;K\l an<' in. 
flexibi- r.-pabli^an, w 11 ever a:ten»pt to i.ijure ths prcfuleu ; but it 
b much t3 bJ df.'a.h: I, that certain pjHi'iail caam!'j/i, no.r ha\rni ig 
liim, win cither contaminate hill witli t^icir /.rr^/tes, or dej:ive hiiQ 
fcv their futaui.ii} jliJilil'-'us. It is <>hf*rveil by an nblc hiftorian:, 
*/t!iat (i!ic of the greicei^ bleiTm^s tha{ can be biluvweit o!i ciiief 
nti^illratcs, is to d diver them from thvMon^ue:? of llaitcry,anJ th^. 
filtface ofgjo I m::i." It is p»inful to fee Mr. Madifon cuuiten.uic*- 
in ' a^iJ puron'.zi.i^ mcnh-^iViic to repu'.)lie inif 11, and poiitinlly hi>- 
Oppoie.Ui — .uen, qu'ilis ex hi.-i.-;}}, n:i!tj e'} f^is. Th.ey appear, to- 
have united, with i./.^;/, to pcrvsrt.if pilublCjth^e.icrgyanu ilrcngtfili 
Oif his nitUi-.il aiFetlioiJ for denucratical prirvclples — If he ha* ar 
•weak Gde, :in u ifortifivd refolucion, an ear to flittcry, a lurt unri 
U-HJnJiJ, th\.y will pain tlie p.ihn in triiunyh. ihls i;no fpecu-^ 
lation of, faiicv— -yhoever has explored tUi: fjeUb of c;;.implc, vxi. 
Uccomi .;enTwrfant vfi^li tii^ decluie of ijover.ne.its, muil lacct cwiv 



[ ''■ ] 

hecJ.iMot iland firni— at all event*', he Icics ilic confidence of the 
pMplc". My coiiclufion then is, iKiit a chief irnr>J(t rate iljuse>por- 
td to fjplii'.liy, inj^euuity, muchiiiation and fuile, is in exircme 
»i.\ngtr of beiiig covvupicd ; uii'.cfi he i^ crcumvalhued, and de- 
fsivled by mnn than human naliire. Like a fair, aiui beautiful vir- 
gin, aii are fjlic'.t'jus fo become her ai'.yeiiturera and aihnircrSj and 
a!th3U';h too impotent to lord th<? eitadcl, sre proud to aid in {-s fur* 
rcadir. Thit poiitical courfe, tfiat is f.ivored, and rewarded, ".vill 
always be folicwed by the [governed •, — and no prudent and wKi 
lum. will coiTi.nit th.e pilotin>i his lliip to a perriin, who liad rather 
vreek her on .'Syila or Chaiibdis, llian waft htr i.ito a pert O) I'afety. 
'i'he evil of co'hi/iJ/ing, and advancing to oifice from pcifonai refpe^?, 
fci-jir OT popu/nri'Vy certain characters dii'-.f+'rcted to cur governmenr, 
wiii be found dan^er»>us in the extreme ; w^en.it i-^ confid^ved, that 
theoiJi:crs of lUte, (however puifne fon-.e tray be) are cf fuch 
iJU'.nbev, pt)wor and inilae'ice, ?.s to be abie to corrtipt the popihice; 
Vfhen tlviy theml'eives are dii.ii?:c\ed. 'Ihe good management, of 
atl i.ivil aiiairs, nccefTirlly depends on- good order i and it is not 
vrithin human power, to r-.^f'-rm ahutes p itronizvd by ihofe in au- 
tVioril'y, nor to pre-veiU the evils tlierelVom avifinp,, or enfuing. Yen, 
ft. are tlic fi,.iO)ed Lord Granby, in the dU'.rihinion cf ycur favors 
—Your own family, or dependants exclude from ycur (•onrider::ilijn 
every clainvof merit, and talents — a harrnor.y of fn^U, neeti fc?v 
no private ItJdrrifigs ; hence, you favour thoie, who will bfftferve 
youvpurpofes, and make yaxxr correfp^ndcKce and focitty, a means gf 
^V^i^"'■'? every tnlng to yourfelf. 

•''Your condu«>,-with rcfperl to the nerrociuion with Mr. Ern.::-.; 
- — your fubtle .irtlfjeci to echo abrp'ad rVj;.t .trriD'-rtion, ^nrbi-it arr» 
K! f, tpi<i/7'i^,'rl^ io «)lvanee- your popularity, aid ,(^«// the pecnie — 
your employing, at the public exfjc'ifc^ a fcrib: to vinfy pood nt^n, -.t'nd 
culcgllc you — youriUibcral abufeof Mr. Gall.itin, dul you the poli- 
la.d ^',11.11 of tlie age ; and whiliT we at.h.or fuch baff^ncf-, we can 
rot but fmllc at 'yoar vanity, for attcmptlrig 'to rccoi;?'rV'ih by 
Jlrata^etftt \v\yAtyr>u?tren\\'ih\QX.o^ur\^hj^/iir)>^t. bfctlii ; m^re 

harm in a (late, than for cuttnirg v.cti to pafg for ivi/'f o.i^j ; iud y<<tt 
Jiave rafhiy ir.rrudcd yourfcif into povevniritMr, v ithout bcinj pre- 
pared for the fcivice, with a fell-cfleem and nn immodtralo urrbj- 
tjn ifor dellroyln^ all perfons capable ci'.hcr ol t'-ullratin}' your m^- 
Cf>iaatlo.ii> or of ecllpfii^ your p'gmy tnieuts, Albert Gallatin, fir, 
is greatly your fuperior in all uiatu'r* where f.d'-liry aod abl.irles ai« 
required, ar.d his ferviets will be mentioned wnh admit anon 
aad gratitude, when your name is. blotted out <rojn all lemcm'. laritr 



LIBRPRY OF CONGRESS 



r 12] 



011 837 192 6 



*— Tour fcrl'oblinp Af.tri/f, or you, mny 
y. u cinnm behold his triinfcciidaiU tal 
01 l^tishK^ioiii but you can never fully his dignity & fame, rhcrc 
are fonic wrv.'tchcs, near wl)om too fl)ining qualities are d.ingeroui 
—who t.ike umhrage at the virtues tr.ey are forced to iidmire, ai .1^ 
to anfwer a fcKiOi purpofe, would revile new born innocence itfelf. 
As to Mr. G illatiii's ** fpecuhtions," or peculations, they are hut 
b'-r"tily furtnifes, and cut-throat calunnikSf unafTociated with evea* 
li^ht, or probable teflmony — But, 

" Vice III a HuUtTnio mirror views maiikiiiJ, 
Jinli»itit!; tif (iiht^r-*, frnin n<« own siniilitiidc. 
TIi.- o.iod are few, and known to ffaers'iil : 
And roguC' believe u-; not tenn)tHli(jri proof, 
"rill lli'-v I'HVf tried U-." 

This letter, fir, is merely preparatory to much tliat I have t» 
cfTer to y >u and the public — it is in fa«i^ a perfcift en:ollnnt when 
coupared with the /;i.\//V/;/i? that is now in an a«Slive flate of prCj-a- 
i-'.riou for v nir f'^tfitivc fah.te. R enounce therefore, sir, that f jr- 
diii:x'fs of foul, tint puts you to the contemptible fiiift cjf raiuii^ uj* 
hirelings, to tradure merit — it is a gradation of fplendid difgrace, 
that carries deftruclion in its own bofom. You have already bc- 
cnm- a new anjhUathn /'/; /^^ z^y/./^r of political profligacy. Your 
prefeiit politic il career, is now i.i the arms ofdeath ; ami although 
i.^ your agotiizi»i2 llrugcles for exiftence, you may maim, or dellroy 
thofc around you, your final exit will meet the univerfal vahdiciorf 
of I'Jtult.it'nii. You are more tlian certain, fir, of going off the _ft<.n{f, 
\iMth dilVm^injlji'd ft'':!<it'i'ji:Sy and like Richard the 2nd, no perfoa 
vill be found to fay of you, " God blefshim." 

TETER CALOMEL. 

1 8 1 o. 



Erwata. In t^e ^d pacre line the rptli for " non-parrallel" rca4 
<« noa-^-arcii"' — Pajje 7th for «• batiu" read " bataa." 



\ 



9 seizes uoo 



SS3dOM03 



JOAdVban 



Hollinger 

pH 8.5 

Mill Run F3-1 955 



